A little boy is fighting for his life in hospital while his twin brother is recovering after they were struck by a car.

The incident happened yesterday after 3.30pm on Railway Street in Lisburn. Last night the boys' family gathered at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where they maintained a vigil at the bedside of the youngster who is in a critical condition.

It is thought the twins are six years old. Medics were on the scene within minutes and rushed the pair to the Belfast hospital.

A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said on arrival one of the children was in a serious condition and the other had non-life threatening injuries.

Last night the Belfast Trust confirmed that one of the boys remained in a critical condition.

He is being treated in the intensive care unit while the second child is understood to be stable in a ward.

It is understood the family are from the Crumlin area and have been named locally as Fraser.

The road where the accident occurred is currently undergoing roadworks and it is was particularly congested yesterday.

The collision is believed to have happened where two lanes of traffic merge into one.

SDLP councillor Patrick Catney said: “The schools were out for about half an hour. But the traffic there was very, very heavy and it’s merging in to one — we’ve been talking about it in council.

“There is a lot of machinery and a lot of work going on around the town and the traffic was extremely heavy because there were long tailbacks through all of the traffic lights at the park.

“It’s just a real shock for the family — two in the one house. It must be awful for them.”

He continued: “I’m very sad to realise it’s happened and my thoughts go out to the family and friends of the little children.

“I know the whole community will rally around and try to help them the best we can and we are just waiting like everyone else.”

Railway Street in Lisburn was closed to traffic for several hours following the crash and diversions were put in place.

DUP councillor Scott Carson said: “My thoughts are with the family of the child as a result of the unfortunate incident that took place today and also with the driver of the vehicle for the ordeal that this person has been put through.”

The accident comes just days after 14-year-old Mark Colgan was killed as he was struck by a van as he waited to catch the bus to school.

The tragic incident happened on the Scarva Road in Banbridge, Co Down.